Nintendo has found itself in hot water in Japan as a court has determined that an industrial doctor at Nintendo was responsible for the “power harassment” of two nurses, and Nintendo must now pay a $1,300 fine. For those unaware, Power harassment is “any kind of behaviour in which a superior takes advantage of his or her position in the workplace to cause co-workers physical pain or emotional distress.”
The two female nurses claimed that they were sent to Nintendo as part of a program that would lead to regular employment but were denied this due to a soured relationship with their boss., with them also claiming that this superior was the one behind the power harassment. The court found in favour of the women with regard to the claim of power harassment but disagreed that they were denied regular employment.
The two nurses worked at Nintendo for roughly 5 months, after which their temping agency was told that the pair wouldn’t be brought on permanently because they, “failed to establish a smooth cooperative framework with the physician.” Their superior failed to greet them at work and would only communicate with the two via email, which led to the power harassment ruling.
